The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-29
UBIQUITOUS INSANE Law.
OUTRAGEOUS EXAMPLE OF ITS
WORKING In FRANCE.
Imprisoned In an Asylum For Pre-
ferring America to His
Native Land.
HISTORY OF THE TOUCHING
CASE OF BARON sRILLIERE.
His Only. Hope Intervention by the
American Government or Re-
peal OF the. Law.

NEW York, June 2S.-The Times
this morning prints the following his
tory OF the case OF Baron Seilliere: :
About year ago tall, distinguished
looking man OF forty years, with an
aristocratic face and sweeping black
moustache, ARRIVED In San Francisco
on his way to his home In Paris, after
tour around thejiworld. 1t quickly
became known in the Pacific metropo-
lis that he was Baron Seilliere, and at
the Palace Hotel In San Francisco nd
the Hotel del Monte at Monterey he
soon became a familiar and remark
able figure. The coquettish young
women OF the first circles there very
quickly christened him "the dear
Baron" and being a man of brilliant
aitainments, wide experience, and
amusing eccentricitiee, he became
widely known and very popular. He
also took great fancy to California,
often declaring his intention OF set
ting there, and though this was re-
garded as joke, it was a serious mat
ter to him, as he went into the United
States Court and declared his inten-
ton Of becoming a citizen. Finally
he left there and came to this
city. In a short time he
was as we'll known at the
Hoffman House az he had been at the
Palace. He possessed enormous
wealth and spent his money lavishly.
He made quite circle of friends here,
and when he left for Paris was very
generally regretted by some Oh the
best known men In town. These men
are now not q little excited over Ger.
tain occurrences which are set forth in
q letter from. one of them, which APP
pears below. The writer is an ex-city
official OF high reputation and un.
questioned veracity. In an interview
last evening he said: 81 first received
news OF this matter by cable. Letters
have eince arrived giving me full par
ticulars. Baron seilliers went home
to adjust some property disputes With
his sister, the Princess De Sagan, the
wife OF the president OF the Jockey
Club and one OF the best known Ia
dies In Europe. Seilliere's aunt, the
Duchess. DE-. Bergh, and his brother
Frank, who lives at his estate at Weld
bad, In Germany, were also concerned.
Seilliere had scarcely arrived there be-
fore he received intimation that there
was some kind Of conspiracy on foot
against him, and he made his friends
promise that II he disappeared they
would hunt him mp.
"He did disappear and they did hunt
him up, finding that while at his
aunt's hotel he had been seized by the
three men, bound anu carried to the
insane asylum ct Vannes, Of which
DR.. Falret Is director. They learned
further that Seilliere had been de.
coyed into state Of extreme anger, In
which he, being very nervous indi.
vidual, doubtless reached an abnor.
NAL pitch, and, In preparation for It,
the Princess De Ssgan, DR.. Mattel and
O medical reporter named Segnam
were concealed. They took their own
notes OF what had passed, and, accord.
ing to tbs letters, their testimony suf.
| feed efter his seizure to accomplish
his commitment. Since that time
Baron Seilliere has beer q cloee pris
oner in a madhouse." The letter oil
his friend says: "This case has already
assumed an intern ational character
from the fact that M. de Selliere ha!
declared his intention of be-
coming a citizen of the United
States, and IL Ia attracting
more than ordinary interest not only
in Paris, but In this country, and par
ticularly in this city, where he wa.
well known in society. Baron Ray
mond Seiliiere is q son of Baron Sell
liere, who was the head Of the wei
known banking house in Paris anC
the owner OF the most extensive clotf
mills in France. The De Seilliere
possess great wealth, variously esti
mated at from $50, goo, 600 to 500, 000,
600, OF which large proportion in tn,
natural order of things would rever
to the baron, who is liberal and gener
GUS to fault, at times profuse in hi
expenditures, and who has diminished
his share considerably. To proven
further decrease and to get possession
Of the balance, which amount
to several millions, was undoubl
eddy the reason Of his i'm
J prisonmeut. The mystery SUI
, rounding the whole matter, and tn
imPenetFabie secrecy preserved rs |
his whereabouts increased the excit.
ment caused by his disappearance
His friends, thoroughly alarmed, OF
! gagged experienced detectives and b
was traced to an insane asylum Il
, Vannes. There he remains, and theI
i he Is likely to remain unless our go
I eminent, recognizing his claim to cit
!, zenship, demands his release, or unit
: public opinion In France is aroused
. action and demands u instant repe
: Of the dangerous and iniquitors Ia